GamesBeat picks the highest 20 standout indie video games of 2017

2017 was an unusually robust 12 months for video video games, and a few of them had nothing to do with the excess of big-budget shooters and open-world adventures. In reality, lots of these stellar experiences got here from small, impartial builders.

To honor their achievements, GamesBeat partnered with Intel to decide on the highest 20 indie video games of the 12 months. Among different elements, we checked out titles that supplied distinctive experiences and informed fascinating tales. The record represents a gaggle of video games that push the boundaries of the medium in a method or one other.

Here, in no explicit order, are the video games we got here up with.

Pyre

It’s uncommon for builders (indie or triple-A) to launch back-to-back hits. But one way or the other, Supergiant Games is 3-for-3 with the discharge of Pyre (PlayStation 4 and PC). Like Bastion and Transistor earlier than it, Pyre invitations you to discover an interesting new world crammed with memorable characters. In the sport, gamers have to flee purgatory by teaming with a small solid of outsiders to beat different tribes in an historic ritual — assume basketball, however with fireplace and magic.

Detention

Gamers weren’t ravenous for horror video games final 12 months (particularly with Resident Evil 7 and The Evil Within 2 main the cost), however Detention managed to carve its personal spooky area of interest on PC. It’s a 2D point-and-click journey that takes place in Taiwan in the course of the 1960s, the place you play as a pair of scholars making an attempt to flee from the grotesque creatures haunting their highschool.

Part of what makes Detention stand out is how developer Red Candle Games makes use of a tumultuous time in Taiwan’s historical past — a interval of martial regulation referred to as the White Terror — so as to add real-world weight to its horror story.

SteamWorld Dig 2

Over the previous few years, Swedish developer Image & Form has been constructing a novel video recreation universe about sentient robots exploring their worlds. The newest is SteamWorld Dig 2 (PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC), a vibrant platformer that tremendously improves on the mechanics from the unique recreation. You’ll discover quite a lot of satisfying power-ups that’ll enable you in your underground adventures.

According to GamesBeat PC gaming editor Jeff Grubb, SteamWorld Dig 2 did the whole lot proper. On his prime 10 record of 2017, he stated the sport is “so easy in its execution of its parts that it virtually makes me surprise why each recreation isn’t this excellent.”

Divinity: Original Sin 2

2017 was additionally a banner 12 months for role-playing recreation followers, who had loads of flavors (from conventional JRPGs to action-RPGs) to select from. But even with the robust competitors, Divinity: Original Sin 2 (PC) nonetheless managed to face out. Larian Studios’s sequel to the critically acclaimed Divinity: Original Sin astonished gamers with its open-ended fight system, sharp writing, and an emotional storyline.

Original Sin 2 was the No. 1 recreation on GamesBeat managing editor Jason Wilson’s prime 10 record, the place he proclaimed that it was “the perfect RPG to come back out not simply this 12 months however in current reminiscence.”

Cuphead

You can’t discuss gaming in 2017 with out mentioning Studio MDHR’s Cuphead (Xbox One and PC). The alluring mixture of a 1930s cartoon aesthetic and tremendous troublesome platforming created a ton of buzz when it debuted at a Microsoft press briefing greater than three years in the past. And the story behind its growth is nothing in need of inspiring. Two brothers — Chad and Jared Moldenhauer — risked all of it to make their dream recreation a actuality.

For many gamers, Cuphead was definitely worth the wait. Studio MDHR not too long ago introduced that the sport bought over 2 million copies throughout each platforms.

Night within the Woods

Night within the Woods (PS4, Xbox One, and PC) is a placing, narrative-driven journey recreation from developer Infinite Fall, who ran a profitable Kickstarter marketing campaign for the undertaking in 2013. The story follows Mae, a university dropout who returns dwelling to reconnect with outdated mates. But the city of Possum Springs can be harboring some unusual secrets and techniques, and it’s as much as her to uncover it.

Night within the Woods was certainly one of GamesBeat reporter Stephanie Chan’s favourite video games of the 12 months. She stated Possum Springs makes the world really feel alive, and that “No matter how flippant or comedic the characters are, you are feeling that there’s a deep throbbing wound on the middle of this place.”

Stories Untold

Scottish developer No Code describes Stories Untold (PC) as a “compilation tape,” cheekily enjoying into the retro ‘80s aesthetic that impressed the sport. The quick horror anthology has 4 interconnected episodes, and the gameplay is an engrossing combine of varied journey genres (together with textual content and point-and-click).

It received’t take you lengthy to resolve Stories Untold’s puzzles, however its creepy soundtrack and unsettling narrative will stick to you for a very long time.

Golf Story

Despite its identify, Golf Story (Nintendo Switch) isn’t too involved about replicating the real-world guidelines behind the game. It’s an easygoing RPG the place your golf membership may also help clear up completely different issues, like serving to a child escape from alligators or incomes additional expertise factors by discovering hidden holes on the planet.

In his overview, VentureBeat head of social Anthony Agnello stated that Golf Story is “assured, easy, and its lighter-than-light method to the whole lot from artwork to humor to play is completely matched with the Switch’s play anytime, anyplace type issue.”

Nex Machina

Nex Machina (PS4 and PC) is a fast-paced twin-stick shooter from a dream workforce of builders: the arcade specialists at Housemarque and Eugene Jarvis (the influential creator of ‘80s arcade hits Defender and Robotron: 2084). The objective is to free humanity from their robotic overlords by destroying the lethal machines with a number of various weapons and power-ups.

Snake Pass

Sumo Digital’s Snake Pass (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC) is a slithery various to the standard jump-heavy platformers. You play because the cheery Noodle, who strikes round rather a lot like an actual snake. Crawling in an S-shape makes you go sooner, and lifting your head up as you progress helps you wrap your body round completely different obstacles. And the collectibles (cash, orbs, and magic stones) scattered all through every degree consistently take a look at your mastery of the controls.

Originally, the concept for Snake Pass got here from an inner recreation jam. According to Sumo Digital, creator Sebastian Liese wished to make “a love letter to each the favourite video games of his youth and his childhood pet snake.”

Dead Cells

Dead Cells (PC) virtually didn’t exist. For years, French studio Motion Twin was making free-to-play video games for Internet browsers and cellular units; however because the market turned extra complicated, the builders knew they wanted to make a change. They deserted F2P altogether to make their dream undertaking, a side-scrolling motion recreation impressed by Super Metroid, Castlevania, and the roguelike style.

Though Dead Cells remains to be unfinished, its reputation rapidly rose when it debuted on Steam’s Early Access program in May 2017. Critics cherished the detailed pixel artwork and the graceful, satisfying fight.

West of Loathing

Don’t let the stick-man artwork idiot you; West of Loathing (PC) is definitely a hilarious western RPG. Your objective is to discover the black-and-white frontier and battle every kind of monsters and bandits. The recreation’s pun-filled merchandise descriptions and absurdist humor is developer Asymmetric Publications’s specialty — it’s the identical studio behind the long-running browser-based MMO, Kingdom of Loathing.

In her optimistic overview, reporter Stephanie Chan stated West of Loathing has an “unapologetically foolish humorousness that may make Mel Brooks proud.”

What Remains of Edith Finch

The second recreation from developer Giant Sparrow (PS4, Xbox One, and PC) is a shifting, contemplative expertise. You play as Edith, the final residing member of the Finches, and he or she’s making an attempt to figure out the reality a couple of supposed household curse. You’ll expertise the lives of former kin by means of a sequence of flashbacks, which finally reveal how they died.

GamesBeat lead author Dean Takahashi loved the private tales hidden within the Finch dwelling. He stated Giant Sparrow succeeded at “creating an expertise in a video recreation that I’ve by no means had earlier than.”

Localhost

Aether Interactive’s Localhost (PC) is an journey recreation set within the far-flung future. You simply began a brand new job in a restore store for AI-driven robots, and certainly one of your first duties is to reformat 4 arduous drives. The downside is that their AI personalities are nonetheless intact, and so they’ll strive their damnedest to persuade you to not erase them.

Reporter Stephanie Chan praised Localhost’s exploration of morally gray areas, saying that it’s the “type of recreation that raises lots of questions, and none of them have easy solutions.”

Everything goes to be OK

Creator Nathalie Lawhead describes Everything goes to be OK (PC) as a “commentary on battle” in our on a regular basis lives. It’s an interactive zine that comprises a set of darkish however relatable tales as informed by means of cartoon characters. But the sport finally has an uplifting message: it doesn’t matter what hardships you’re going by means of, you’re not alone.

For Lawhead, shallowness points, melancholy, trauma, and different subjects by means of a comedic lens was necessary. In an interview with GamesBeat, she stated, “Life is ridiculous. It’s one rattling factor after one other. You make the perfect of it. You roll with the punches.”

Torment: Tides of Numenera

Developer InXile Entertainment describes Torment: Tides of Numenera (PS4, Xbox One, and PC) because the “thematic successor” to Planescape: Torment, the landmark 1999 RPG. It takes place within the fantasy world of Numenera, the place, as the previous vessel of a god, it’s essential to carve out a brand new life for your self. It’s much less about fight and extra about storytelling — in addition to making robust decisions alongside the way in which.

Torment was one other 2017 favourite for managing editor (and resident CRPG knowledgeable) Jason Wilson. He stated it has “one of many best-written tales of the 12 months.”

Bury me, my Love

The plight of tens of millions of Syrian refugees — who’re escaping from the nation’s civil struggle — is made private in Bury me, my Love (iOS and Android). It focuses on the fictional couple Nour and Majd. Nour is fleeing to Germany whereas her husband is staying in Syria to care for his household. You’ll monitor Nour’s journey (and assist her make essential decisions) from Majd’s perspective through simulated textual content messages.

While each of them are in precarious conditions, the sport isn’t all the time so dour. According to reporter Stephanie Chan, you’ll see Nour’s “sassy humorousness” and Majd’s bookishness come by means of of their intimate conversations.

Danger Zone

Three Field Entertainment’s Danger Zone (PS4, Xbox One, and PC) is laser-focused on one factor: dramatic vehicular mayhem. And that is smart given the builders’ heritage, a few of whom labored on the enduring Burnout franchise. Danger Zone is sort of a standalone model of Burnout’s score-chasing crash mode, difficult you to create greater and larger explosions utilizing all kinds of automobiles and obstacles.

PC Gaming editor Jeff Grubb had a tough time placing Danger Zone down when it first got here out. He stated the physics-based gameplay felt “fairly magical.”

2064: Read Only Memories

In 2064: Read Only Memories (PS4, PlayStation Vita, and PC), San Francisco studio Midboss reworked its dwelling metropolis right into a cyberpunk paradise. Like its inspirations Snatcher and Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Father, ROM is a point-and-click journey recreation the place you hit the streets of Neo-San Francisco to seek out details about your lacking good friend. It has an eclectic solid of characters, together with your useful robotic companion, Turing.

The recreation is definitely an enhanced model of the unique 2015 launch. The 2017 replace (coinciding with the PS4 port) added new artwork, voice actors, and puzzles.

Kingsway

Kingsway (PC) is a tribute to each basic RPGs and ‘90s-era Windows working programs. The latter is clear within the pseudo-Windows interface the place the complete recreation takes place. Solo developer Andrew Morrish cleverly repurposed conventional RPG staples — like inventories, fight, and quests — in order that they really feel like a pure a part of the OS.

Reporter Stephanie Chan gave Kingsway a rating of 85/100, saying that she “loved the novelty of the interface together with the flexibility to experiment with maximizing completely different character courses.”

Sponsored posts are content material produced by an organization that’s both paying for the publish or has a enterprise relationship with VentureBeat, and so they’re all the time clearly marked. Content produced by our editorial workforce is rarely influenced by advertisers or sponsors in any manner. For extra info, contact gross sales@venturebeat.com.